Pakistan In State Of Shock Over Cricket Team Attack

The attack on members of the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore sent a wave of fear and concern among members of the Pakistan government which now must confront the issue that violence is getting out of hand. The government announced it was in a “state of war” after masked gunmen ambushed the cricket team during which they injured six players and killed seven Pakistanis. The military-style attack bore a resemblance to the Mumbai terror assault which left over 170 dead. Pakistani officials believe the Islamist group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, played a role in the attack on the Sri Lanka team. The incident will most probably damage tourist travel and doom chances for Pakistan to host the World Cup in 2011.

Salmaan Taseer, Governor of the Punjab province, said “it was the same terrorists who attacked Mumbai” and noted the assailants had military training. Police claim they have arrested several “suspects” but there is no evidence they have cracked the gang itself. A major problem is the reality that Lashkar-e-Taiba has been trained by members of the Pakistan ISI and has close ties to military personnel in the Pakistan army. Will these men be arrested?